Combined brace and tie plate



F. D. SPENCER 2,130,972

COMBINED BRACE AND TIE PLATE Sept. 20, 1938.

Filed Dec. 2, 1936' Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,130,972 COMBINED BRACE AND TIE PLATE Frank D. Spencer, Skelton, W. Va. Application December 2, 1936, Serial No. 113,895

1 Claim.

This invention relates to rail braces and more particularly to a combined rail brace and tie plate.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of the character described which will effectually brace and prevent turning of the rail under all conditions of service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined brace and tie plate comprising a base member having spaced spurs depending from the bottom thereof for engagement with a cross tie and provided at one end thereof with an upwardly inclined overhanging arm adapted to bear against and brace the web of a rail.

A further object of the invention is to form the overhanging arm of the tie plate with cutout portions having spike-receiving recesses formed therein and defining spaced fingers, the

ends of which constitute stop shoulders or abutments for engagement with a rail base.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of a combined rail brace and tie plate embodying the I present invention, said section being taken on the line l-l of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the combined 7 brace and tie plate detached.

The improved rail brace and tie plate forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises a base plate 5 preferably substantially rectangular in shape, as shown, and formed of metal or other suitable material, said base plate gradually increasing in thickness from one side thereof to the other so as to impart the desired angle or slant to the rail, indicated at 6. Formed integral with the base plate 5 are a plurality of depending spurs 1 adapted to be driven into a cross tie 8 for the purpose of holding the base in position thereon and preventing lateral movement of the plate relative to the tie while driving the securing spikes 9. The thickened end 10 of the base 5 is provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined overhanging arm H, the free end of which is spaced from the adjacent surface of the base-5 to form a seat I2 adapted to receive the base [3 of the rail 6. The free end of the overhanging arm H is provided with rail, as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The abutments or shoulders H] are disposed in transverse alinement with similar shoulders 20 at the opposite sides of the overhanging arm so 15 that, when the rail is positioned on the base 5, the adjacent edge of the base of the rail will bear against all of said shoulders or abutments and thus assist in preventing tilting movement of the rail on the tie plate. 20

I The thin end of the base 5 is provided with a plurality of spike-receiving openings 2| each having its end portion laterally offset with respect to each other whereby spikes driven through the openings may be spaced from the shoulders 19 25 and 20 the correct distance for engaging a side edge portion of the base of a narrow gauge rail or a standard rail.

In using the device, the base plate 5 is positioned on the cross tie with the spurs 1 thereof 30 embedded in the wood of the cross tie. The rail 6 is then positioned on the base and moved laterally thereof until the adjacent edge of the base of the rail contacts with the stop shoulders I9 and 20, after which the spikes 9 are driven 35 through the openings and appropriate end portions of the opening 2| to dispose the spikes in engagement with side edges of the rail base with their heads in overhanging relation to the rail base, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. 40 With the parts so arranged, the nose I4 of the overhanging arm I I will effectually brace the web of the rail and prevent lateral tilting thereof incident to the passage of cars and other rolling stock thereover. If desired, the combined brace 45 and tie plate may be arranged alternately on different cross ties, that is to say, on one of the cross ties the overhanging arm may engage the outer surface of the web of the rail and on another cross tie said arm may engage the inner 50 surface of web of the rail and in this manner the rail along the entire track may be effectually braced and strengthened so as to prevent spreading of the rails as Well as lateral tilting thereof and thus avoid accidents which often happen 55 when said rails are not securely braced. It will, of course, be understood that the device may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be understood that, if desired, the nose I4 of the overhanging arm ll may extend for the major portion of the height of the web of the rail and in some cases may extend to a point beneath the ball of said rail. A device constructed in accordance with the present inventionwill effectually hold the rails in alinement and prevent lateral tilting movement thereof under all conditions of SeI'VlCB.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A combined rail brace and tie plate comprising a base plate gradually increased in ythiQkllfiQS from the inner edge thereof to its outer edge, a

full. width thereofand extending towards the inner end of the plate in overhanging relation thereto, said lip gradually increasing in thickness towards its free end, said lip defining a recess under the lip and having a flat edge face for abutting engagement with a side face of the web of a rail when a rail is set upon the base plate With a side portion of its base extending into the recess and overlapped by the lip, a shoulder for engaging a side edge of the rail base under the attached end of said lip, spike receiving openings formed through the thicker portion of; said plate with their inner ends intersecting said shoulder and, their upper portions enlarged to provide spike-head receiving pockets extending beyond said shoulders intothe lip and forming openings exposing portions of the rail base for gripping engagementbyspike heads, and other spike receiving openings formed through the thin portions of the base plate.

FRANK SPENCER. 

